Mercy Housing Lakefront and Mercy Portfolio Services today hosted national policymakers and gathered leaders from Chicago's business community, advocacy groups, and government agencies to highlight some innovative and new solutions for the affordable housing and foreclosure crisis in Chicago.
“Mercy Housing’s mission is to create vibrant, stable, healthy communities. We do that by developing, financing and managing affordable housing. We also do that by responding creatively to the needs of individual communities. To do this well, we form innovative partnerships across sectors including the public sector and private businesses," said Cindy Holler, president, Mercy Housing Lakefront. “Today’s event reflects the rich, people-focused problem-solving that results from those partnerships.”
“Moving Forward Together” was the theme for Mercy Housing Lakefront's fundraising and coalition-building event at the Swissotel in downtown Chicago. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle served as honorary chair of the event. WGN television anchor Robert Jordan served as master of ceremonies. Mercedes Márquez, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development provided the keynote address to the group.
The event helped raise awareness and support for the Moving Forward Together campaign to address the Chicago and Milwaukee regional housing and foreclosure crisis by building or preserving 7,500 affordable homes, creating 8,000 jobs, and preventing displacement or homelessness for 20,000 people.
“Out of this foreclosure and housing crisis there are new partnerships that can and must be formed," said Bill Goldsmith, president, Mercy Portfolio Services. "We are excited to be in a city where unconventional conversations not only happen, but where the ideas produced are put into action.“
Coming in November, Mercy Housing Lakefront and the City of Chicago will celebrate the grand re-opening of the Harold Washington Apartments in Uptown, formerly the historic Moreland Hotel, a 69-unit building that utilizes state-of-the-art design and technology to provide safe, supportive and environmentally-friendly homes for previously homeless citizens of Chicago.
About Mercy Housing Lakefront
Mercy Housing Lakefront is a non-profit affordable housing organization providing innovative housing solutions in response to community needs. Mercy Housing Lakefront has developed and currently manages 21 properties serving more than 2,800 residents. Mercy Portfolio Services is a foreclosure prevention and remediation leader that is managing Chicago’s $169 million Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Mercy Housing Lakefront and Mercy Portfolio Services are part of Mercy Housing, a national organization that has developed, preserved, or financed over 40,000 affordable homes.